Postpartum Pain: Why Your Pain Is Real and How to Make Sure It’s Treated
Key Takeaways
- Black women report higher levels of postpartum pain but receive less pain medication than their White counterparts.
- The ROOT Framework™ helps women effectively communicate their pain to healthcare providers.
- Steps include revealing pain, offering specific observations, outlining needs, and following up on requests for pain relief.
- Unmanaged pain can lead to postpartum depression and hinder bonding with the baby.
- Advocacy tools, like the Postpartum Warning Signs Violet Sheet, empower mothers to seek proper pain management.
We need to have a serious talk about pain. For generations, Black women have been praised for being “strong.” We handle everything—our families, our careers, our communities. But when it comes to giving birth and recovering, that “strong Black woman” label can sometimes work against us.
It can make us feel like we have to suffer in silence, or worse, it can make the healthcare system believe we don’t feel pain the same way others do.
A recent study published in Prenatal and Neonatal Medicine proves what many of us have whispered to our girlfriends for years: Black women are reporting higher levels of pain after birth but are receiving less medication to manage it. At Rooted in Violet, we believe you shouldn’t have to suffer to prove your strength. Here is what the science says and how you can use our ROOT Framework™ to advocate for the relief you deserve.
What the Research Says
Researchers looked at thousands of women after they gave birth—both vaginally and by C-section. The findings were frustrating but important for us to know:
- Higher Pain Scores: Black and Hispanic women consistently reported higher pain scores (often rating their pain a 7 out of 10 or higher) compared to White women.
- Less Medication: Even though Black women were in more pain, they received significantly fewer opioid pain medications than White women.
- Fewer Prescriptions: When it was time to go home, Black women were less likely to be given a prescription for pain relief to take with them.
This isn’t just about “feeling uncomfortable.” Unmanaged pain can increase your risk of postpartum depression and make it harder to bond with your new baby or breastfeed. The study suggests that these differences aren’t due to biological factors, but rather to how hospitals and providers assess and treat us.
How to Use the ROOT Framework™ for Pain Management
Knowing the stats is the first step. The next step is action. You don’t have to accept suffering as part of the package. Use the ROOT Framework to effectively communicate your pain levels to your doctors and nurses.
R – Reveal What’s Going On
Stop saying “I’m fine” if you aren’t. We are often taught to minimize our discomfort so we don’t seem “difficult.” But if your pain is a 7 out of 10, say it.
- What to say: “I am in significant pain right now. It is not getting better with the medication I have.”
O – Offer Your Observations
Be specific. “It hurts” is vague. Give them the details so they can’t brush it off.
- What to say: “I feel a sharp, burning pain near my incision every time I try to sit up,” or “My cramping is so bad I can’t hold the baby comfortably.”
O – Outline What You Need
Be clear about what you want. You are a partner in your care, not just a patient.
- What to say: “I need a pain management plan that brings my pain score down to a 3,” or “I would like the stronger medication we discussed because this dosage isn’t working.”
T – Take Note and Follow-Up
This is your accountability step. If you ask for help and don’t get it, write it down.
- Action: Keep a notepad or use your phone. Write: “Asked Nurse Jones for pain relief at 2:15 PM. She said she would check orders.” If she doesn’t return in 20 minutes, ring the call bell and reference your note.
You Are Worthy of Relief
Your pain is real. Your recovery matters. You cannot pour into your new baby if you are running on empty and in agony. By using the ROOT Framework, you are not being “aggressive”—you are a responsible mother ensuring you are well enough to care for your child.
Ready to build your advocacy toolkit? Download our free Violet Sheet on Postpartum Warning Signs to take with you to the hospital. Join the Rooted in Violet community today to connect with other moms who are rewriting their health stories.
Postpartum Warning Signs Violet Sheet
Unsure of what you are experiencing? Need help communicating? Complete and download your Postpartum Warning Signs Violet Sheet Today Using Our Web App!
References
Badreldin, N., Grobman, W. A., & Yee, L. M. (2019). Racial and ethnic disparities in postpartum pain management. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 134(6), 1147–1153. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31764723/
Declercq, E. R., & Zephyrin, L. (2020). Severe maternal morbidity in the United States: A primer. The Commonwealth Fund.
Johnson, J. D., & Williams, K. (2024). Racial and ethnic disparities in postpartum pain management. Prenatal and Neonatal Medicine. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pmf2.70205
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2025). Racial disparities in maternal and infant health: Current status and key issues. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/racial-disparities-in-maternal-and-infant-health-current-status-and-key-issues/
Peeler, A., Miller, A. C., & Schiff, L. (2020). Racial and ethnic inequities in postpartum pain evaluation and management. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 135, 3S. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32287661/